selling on Ebay

I am planning on opening a store on ebay in like two weeks. So right now I just found some brand new stuff in my closet I've never used to start off with, to get atleast some experience. I have already lost more than I'll make selling them with just the basic fees, which I wasn't looking on making a profit I was just doing that for the feedbacks and experiece! But for someone new like me it seems tough. I guess I learned that pictures matter so much. Due to the quality of my camera I couldn't get good ones and I spend a long time trying to take decent ones. I've gotten absolutely no bids and I think those items are great (well they do look way better than in the pics) with very low starting bid. I just feel discouraged :cry: I already spend a lot of time researching to start a small business and I ordered some really nice items online to resell in a few weeks. Ebay fees are sky high, and I wasn't aware they charged even more everytime you wanted to revise each item. This post is long! Thank you for reading, I would really appreciate any advice! :D

However they do charge for the type of revisions, if you go ahead and add extras, anything from using bold or highlights!

My advice? Is just like uBid or otherwise....

DON'T USE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't even use them on bid-alot!

Just ignore them, and you can list for as low as $3 anywhere with just paying the insertion fee, or sometimes only $1. Or sometimes only $.60 cents when they have a listing fee SALE special!

Just do that, trust me. Follow it as a general rule. It is not worth it paying for their extras unless you are just desperate and HAVE to sell it, if its a more expensive item you must make sure the whole world knows about.

I list most of my items now for either .01 or .99. It only cost .55 to list an item with a gallery picture.

I have tried to list for .01 or .99 but it didn't work very well. I had to call a friend and have him bid on the item so I didn't have to sell it for 1.50. It's too risky for me. I list everything fixed price. Under $20 item is .75 and it goes up with item price.

I try to mix up my listing types, auctions, fixed price, store items...it is true that store items are cheaper to list...but you pay for the store...so maybe it balances out.

For a new person, Im one also...I learning that just getting the traffic to your store is the first part of the battle...do that and you might be good at this. Try using good phrases, use brand names in the titles...the more people see it, the better it does...thats my understanding.

I try to mix up my listing types, auctions, fixed price, store items...it is true that store items are cheaper to list...but you pay for the store...so maybe it balances out.

For a new person, Im one also...I learning that just getting the traffic to your store is the first part of the battle...do that and you might be good at this. Try using good phrases, use brand names in the titles...the more people see it, the better it does...thats my understanding.

thanksgil

You can get a domain name at Link hidden: Login to view for around $9 a year and redirect to your store ebay for more traffic. This way you can put links to your store in your listing, just like Berk LLC does here at salehoo and I'm sure it works great for them also.

for around $9 a year and redirect to your store ebay for more traffic. This way you can put links to your store in your listing, just like Berk LLC does here at salehoo and I'm sure it works great for them also.

Yes......or....you can use the 'secret' and watch unbelievable results.

I have been for some time. But I won't give away the 'secret' about gaining traffic for nothing there's just no way.

I'm going to finish my e-book, and start giving the secret and the proven strategy away everywhere for about $1-2 each and just shoot the e-book all over the world. It definitely does the job.

a store might have cheaper insertion fees but they get you with the final value fee my advice is don't do a store. stick with regular auction style listings. what i do is charge a little more for shipping than what it would normally be. which would cover your fees. because if u sell an item for .99 cents and charge exact shipping u lose all your money to the insertion fees.

I need Help i tried to sell some shoes on ebay. But after one day of listing it , ebay ended my auction, because it was a trademark violation? I think they where saying my shoes were replicas? My question is how ebay found out my shoes were replicas.

you can add in your description that you are not sure of authenticity of the item so you can let you buyers know what they really are bidding. That's what i do on my listing when i am not sure of something and people do bid and give you positive feedback for being honest..... I hope this helps =)

I am new to online selling and I have afew questions regarding the posts in this form.
First when you sell something through ebay for $0.01 or .99
what happens if it acutally sells for that price? Especally if you know you can get $50.00 or more for it. Do you put in a reserve price? And does that cost more?

Second haus1028 posted that she tried to use the .99 price but it didn't work and she had to have a friend bid on it for her to dirve the price up. That's shill bidding and you can get into alot of trouble with ebay. So be carrful.

I am new to online selling and I have afew questions regarding the posts in this form. First when you sell something through ebay for $0.01 or .99 what happens if it acutally sells for that price? Especally if you know you can get $50.00 or more for it. Do you put in a reserve price? And does that cost more?

Second haus1028 posted that she tried to use the .99 price but it didn't work and she had to have a friend bid on it for her to dirve the price up. That's shill bidding and you can get into alot of trouble with ebay. So be carrful.

Well its based on what your trying to sell. If your selling low value items then its ok. I sell hundreds of items a month at just 99cents. But most of those items I pay around a dollar for. And I still turn profits on those items because I charge 5 bucks for shipping and it only costs a buck to ship them. After listing fees and packaging I still tend to profit 2-3 bucks on even a 99 cent bid. But just as well I sell hundreds of the same items for 2-5 dollars and the profits are much better. I have even found that if at certain times of the week I make the minimum bids 3.00 instead of 99 cents. Ill sell more with higher bids then the lower starting bid.

Its based on the level of loss your willing to take. There are many sellers that have learned to break even on low cost items where as thier other items make them more money.

On clothes if you pay only 1.00 per item on designer or brand name and sell that item for 99cents and you charge 6 bucks for shipping. You pay 1.75-2.50 for shipping. You still win :D

Heres what you do. And it may have been mentioned. I sell for a local collectibles shop. Not the point of the story just FYI.

List a ton of stuff for .99. Right now eBay is having a free gallery month.

So list the hell out of anything you can get you hands on. .99 is the best advertisement. In your listing state that your new to eBay and look forward to selling your first couple of items. Some people like being a first customer. When I opened my second account I did this and had feedback stating they were happy to be my first customer.

'Give fair shipping but make sure you cover your expenses. I actually make a few dollars on shipping.
Use good lites and take the best pix you can. Then apologize in your listing for poor pics and your new and don't have a good camera yet. But promise the item is as described.

In your listing promise you will ship next day. Then as soon as the item sells and is paid for ship it. If you can ship it the same day its paid for, do. Then email the customers who paid and tell them it shipped.

What your doing is looking for great feedback. Not just thank you, or got it, or OK.

When I opened my second account for collectibles my FB was 'WOW! got it so fast great seller'. 'Blistering fast shipping incredible!'
'Great! Item as described fast shipping'

One of the pet peeves on eBay is slow shipping. People don't want to wait!

Then, after they leave you FB, leave them really good FB. Like, 'Excellent buyer. Fast payer!!!!!!'

Also, I know sellers have been having problems with eBay restricting their account. Awesome feedback could be the final decision to not restrict an account.

On items that dont sell. I have had so many items not sell the first time and then sell for more than I thought the second time around.

I had a Bo Jackson bb card not get even a watcher one time and then sell for 10$ on the re-list. So unless the item is an obvious crapper, re-list. Sometimes if I am lazy I re-list 50 or so items that didn't sell. I'll sell 5 to 15 of them. And since I list everything for .99 and no pic if there isnt a special. It only cost 10.00 for fifty listings.

If I make 3$ on shipping and sell ten I made 20$ not including what the item actually sells for.

Most of the questions asked here would be better asked in the eBay community forums. The people there are very very helpful and they know eBay back to front and inside out. The also know the eBay terms and conditions. Most people never bother to read them. It is actually against eBay's terms and conditions to profit from shipping and it is one of the main things that is likely to get you negative feedback.

userexists - your right it is against Ebays policies, however 95% of sellers do use higher than the actual postage cost - me included, because i have to pack the item and then take the item to the post office and also deal with the lost items...on average I pay